POT GROWING IS NO SURPRISE

Asking why pot is growing near schools (editorial, Sunday) is like
asking why grass grows near trees (no pun intended). Humans have
cultivated it for our entire history -- from China and Rome to today.
Next, consider that there are schools everywhere. Where should these
people live? I'm guessing you don't care as long as it's "not in our
town."

Consider what DEA Administrative Judge Francis L. Young wrote
concerning evidence of marijuana as medicine in 1986: "Marijuana, in
its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active
substances known to man. By any measure of rational analysis,
marijuana can be safely used within a supervised routine of medical
care. ... It would be unreasoning, arbitrary and capricious for the
DEA to continue to stand between those sufferers and the benefit of
this substance, in light of the evidence on record."

The DEA rejected its own judge's ruling then and continues to defy
reason and rational thought. Nice to know the Record Searchlight is
equally myopic.

Michael Metz

Redding